Tutorial on Scholarly Publishing

The University of Colorado developed a on-line tutorial:

Publish, Not Perish: The Art & Craft of Publishing in Scholarly Journals

This tutorial is designed primarily for scholars who are fairly new to the publishing process. It covers most of the important issues, but does not go into great depth. Below are the topics covered in each module. You can go directly to the module you are interseted in. You must sign in, but they state the information is used only to track who is using the tutorial.

Module 1 - Overview of Scholarly Journal Publishing

   •       What’s ‘open access,’ and why do I care?

   •       What kinds of articles should I try to publish?

   •       How do I find appropriate journals for submitting my work?

   •       Should I co-author articles with colleagues?

   •       Where do I get ideas for paper topics?

   •       How do I turn my idea(s) into a publishable article?

   •       How do I contact a journal?

   •       How do I format my paper properly?

   •       How do I accurately cite my sources?

   •       How long will it take to hear back about my submission?

   •       What happens in the peer review process?

   •       What happens if my paper is rejected?

Module 2 - Laying the Groundwork:  Ideas, Journal Research & Queries

   •       Identify publication opportunities within your academic or professional work

   •       Match your publishing idea or topic to appropriate scholarly journals

   •       Analyze and profile scholarly journals that are likely candidates for publishing your paper

   •       Describe the process of sending a query to editors of appropriate scholarly journals

Module 3 - Deadlines & Details:  Preparing and Submitting a Manuscript

   •       Describe the context of scholarly research

   •       Describe the process of conducting a literature search, including which sources to consult, what skills are need, and which resources can assist you in developing your research skills

   •       Identify tips and tools for recording and organizing your information

   •       Describe the writing process, including resources that can assist you

   •       Identify ethical issues in research and writing, including plagiarism

   •       Describe the importance of following author guidelines

   •       Describe the manuscript submission process, including the essential elements of a final draft and the features of a good cover letter

Module 4 - From Good to Great:  The Editorial and Peer Review Process

   •       Summarize the timeline of a typical peer review

   •       Describe what editorial staff are looking for in your manuscript

   •       Describe what peer reviewers are looking for in your manuscript

   •       Identify your responsibilities in the editorial process,

   •       Name tips for maximizing your publication’s payback/benefits to you.

   •       List strategies for dealing with rejection

Module 5 - Making it Yours:  Customizing Your Publishing Plan

   •       Develop a personal publishing plan

   •       Identify resources for sustaining development